Alvi, Erdogan vow to work closely to counter challenges facing Islamic world

ISLAMABAD: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi today at the Presidency and discussed issues of mutual interest.

President Erdogan is visiting Pakistan for the 6th Session of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC).

The President of Pakistan, extending a warm welcome to President Erdogan, expressed gratification over the level of enhanced and multifaceted engagement between the two countries.

He added that the 6th Session of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council will further strengthen and broaden the fraternal relations between Pakistan and Turkey. Both leaders underlined the special significance of the historic bilateral relationship between the two countries in diverse areas including political, economic, cultural, defence and people-to-people contacts.

President Alvi apprised President Erdogan of the worsening human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and took the opportunity to thank the President Erdogan for his principled stand on Kashmir.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues.

President Alvi highlighted Pakistan’s efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and stressed that the world community should extend its help in Afghanistan’s post-conflict reconstruction.

The two presidents also agreed that Pakistan and Turkey must continue to work closely to counter challenges facing the Ummah, including Islamophobia.

The two leaders affirmed that both countries would continue to extend mutual support on issues of each other’s core national interest.

They also underscored the importance of fully realizing the immense potential of relationship between Pakistan and Turkey and transforming it into a strong and dynamic trade and economic partnership. The President and First Lady later hosted a banquet in honour of President and Mrs. Erdogan and the entourage accompanying them.